UPDATED: F-35s to soar again

F-35s rest under a canopy on Thursday at Eglin Air Force Base. The fleet of F-35s has been grounded after one of the aircraft caught fire on the runway late last month.

NICK TOMECEK / Daily News

By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE / Daily News

Published: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 08:52 AM.

EGLIN AFB — The military has cleared F-35 jets to return to flight, though it will likely still be days before they take to the skies again over Northwest Florida.

The entire fleet of F-35s nationwide was grounded earlier this month after one caught fire during takeoff on the runway at Eglin Air Force Base on June 23.

The flight clearance is a limited one, cautioned Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon’s press secretary, in a statement early Tuesday morning.

It comes with engine inspection requirements and restricted flight conditions, which will remain in effect until the “root cause of the June 23 mishap is identified and corrected.”

“Safety remains the overriding priority,” he said.

On Monday, Frank Kendall, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, told reporters in Europe the cause of the fire had been “excessive” rubbing of the engine blades. Based on initial findings, the problem did not appear systemic, he said.

He said a thorough analysis was still under way, though.

Eglin is home to 49 of the jets, over half the fleet nationwide. The 33rd Fighter Wing there is responsible for training pilots and maintainers across all branches to operate the military’s newest fighter aircraft, which is still in development stages.

It was unknown Tuesday when pilots at Eglin will return to the skies.

Air Force Lt. Hope Cronin, a spokeswoman for the wing at Eglin, said they were still awaiting official word of the clearance from the various military branches, though they anticipated it to come soon. After that, it will still take a day or two before the jets could get back in the air, she said.

Later on Tuesday, officials said the F-35 would not make it to the Farnborough Air Show in England, which is currently underway. The planes’ engines will need to be checked every three hours, making the flight across the ocean impossible.

Due to the grounding, the F-35 program had to cancel several scheduled showings that were supposed to mark the jet’s first international appearances.

Eight other countries, including the United Kingdom, have bought into the F-35 program.

EGLIN AFB — The military has cleared F-35 jets to return to flight, though it will likely still be days before they take to the skies again over Northwest Florida.

The entire fleet of F-35s nationwide was grounded earlier this month after one caught fire during takeoff on the runway at Eglin Air Force Base on June 23.

The flight clearance is a limited one, cautioned Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon’s press secretary, in a statement early Tuesday morning.

It comes with engine inspection requirements and restricted flight conditions, which will remain in effect until the “root cause of the June 23 mishap is identified and corrected.”

“Safety remains the overriding priority,” he said.

On Monday, Frank Kendall, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, told reporters in Europe the cause of the fire had been “excessive” rubbing of the engine blades. Based on initial findings, the problem did not appear systemic, he said.

He said a thorough analysis was still under way, though.

Eglin is home to 49 of the jets, over half the fleet nationwide. The 33rd Fighter Wing there is responsible for training pilots and maintainers across all branches to operate the military’s newest fighter aircraft, which is still in development stages.

It was unknown Tuesday when pilots at Eglin will return to the skies.

Air Force Lt. Hope Cronin, a spokeswoman for the wing at Eglin, said they were still awaiting official word of the clearance from the various military branches, though they anticipated it to come soon. After that, it will still take a day or two before the jets could get back in the air, she said.

Later on Tuesday, officials said the F-35 would not make it to the Farnborough Air Show in England, which is currently underway. The planes’ engines will need to be checked every three hours, making the flight across the ocean impossible.

Due to the grounding, the F-35 program had to cancel several scheduled showings that were supposed to mark the jet’s first international appearances.

Eight other countries, including the United Kingdom, have bought into the F-35 program.